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Post by anacrusis on Apr 21, 2007 21:48:31 GMT
Who knows the first thing about these? I've never been to one, not as an audience member, and certainly not as a performer, and appear to have sent off an application for one, which has been accepted . Should I play the hardest thing I can manage, and make it sound difficult, or play something easier, but do it fairly convincingly well? What to wear? Do I have to look as if I'm doing a concert or as if I'm just playing for fun? Will the other candidates/competitors poison my porridge or attempt to poach my accompanist (he's rather good)? Should I introduce my programme (it's a free-choice fifteen-minute mini-recital)? *very relieved I'm big and grown up now, so can't be nobbled by the mummies and daddies of other musicians. I hope. *
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Post by Steve Hopwood on Apr 22, 2007 11:03:51 GMT
Who knows the first thing about these? I've never been to one, not as an audience member, and certainly not as a performer, and appear to have sent off an application for one, which has been accepted . Oops. I know someone who accidentally sent of a diploma entry; absent-minded creatures, musicians. Go for playability. You are going to be in front of an audience, however small, and playing in the knowledge that you are being assessed. Mid-way between the two. 'Smart casual' is how the kids describe it. Go on looking like you are the soloist at the last night of the proms and you risk looking overdressed. Going in jeans and t shirt hardly suggests to yourself that you are doing something out of the ordinary. No Possibly. Especially if the festival accompanist is dire. They often are. It is a nice feature of the performance when the audience does not know the details of your programme. It enhances their enjoyment. Standard advice to all festival competitors: * It is a matter of luck whether you please t'judge or not, so treat success or failure with equal indifference. * Don't take to much notice of mi lud's comments unless he\she is clearly an expert. I will expand on this later. * Treat the event as an opportunity to perform in public, rather than as a competition. * Ignore any comments about the suitability of your programme, in terms of how difficult\easy it is. These scenarios really do occur: judge A automatically gives first prize to the player of the hardest piece, regardless of how badly it is played, so next time you prepare the hardest piece you know and stumble through it when; judge B automatically gives first prize to the most musical performance, however childishly simple the piece. I new a judge, years ago, who would award first place to anybody who played from memory. I do not know what she did if more than one competitor was so brave as I never saw it happen. We used to say "Treat the event as an opportunity to perform in public and get some feedback from another expert musician who specialises in your instrument." This is sadly no longer the case. In my recent experience, festivals are going more and more for 'generalist' adjudicators. These people have a wide experience of judging the musical aspects of a performance; they may know little or nothing about the technique required to play an individual instrument, yet still feel qualified to expound upon it. Unless the programme blurb says, "Today's demigod is an internationally renowned recorder soloist", then run any technical advice past an expert before you risk knackering your technique. Festival adjudicators are required to be constructive, encouraging and forgiving. Any judge renowned for 'slating' competitors rapidly runs out of judging opportunities as word gets around, so there is no need to be apprehensive of his\her comments.
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Post by anacrusis on Apr 22, 2007 15:53:50 GMT
Thank you for that. Sadly the adjudicator is indeed a recorder soloist , apparently well-know enough for a couple of teachers I know to have heard of her; I guess that fact could work two ways...she'll know what cr*p technique is, but there again, she'll also know what's hard to pull off well. Will enrol the help of accompanist's partner to protect him from poaching ;D. *goes to see if she's got half-smart outfit, cos if not, there'll have to be a trip to a shop, arrrgh.* No time to do buying on internet, gawd it's too tight, send it back for alternative size etc.
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Post by stumac on Apr 23, 2007 12:29:43 GMT
I have played at one music festival - and was interested to reads steve's comments. Dspite being of sufficiently mature years to be mistaken for the adjudicator (before I'd played) I was undoubtedly the least experienced / proficient / skilled pianist there. It was a senior class so most other competitors / partcipants were late teens / early 20s. Quiet a few music students. I sat through the class before mine - some of the playing was incredible - the adjudication was generally a bit "harsh" - at several points the adjudicator apologised for not being more positive but.... and then got stuck in again. As we moved onto my class "french music" I began to wonder what I'd let myself in for. I played "Three Gnossiennes for the piano" which was undoubtedly the easiest performance. Made a lot of mistakes and stuggled to get some of the pp notes to sound as you had no chance to try the piano, so it was straight onto a full size Steinway - first note of the performance was first time you'd played it. Came away feeling generally pleased as I seemed to have been in control for most of the time and some bits I was actually pleased with. Some of the other performances were superb playing (at least to my ears) and adudication seemed to follow the same pattern as before. Started off by saying that nobody had plyed well enough to gain entry to gold medal class, but silver medal would be awarded. Many not entirely positive comments with apologies for not being more positive. When she came onto me I got a big smile - much praise for expression and was held up as an example to the others as I'd played from memory!! This was clearly very important to this particular adjudicator. She was very encouraging and asked my how long I'd been playing when I picked up the certificate. Re-iterated her comments and was very positive. I was awarded "Merit" which means "a capable performance showing some artistic apreciation / technical skill" (or words to that effect). You can see the write up here - I love the way she talks of "note blemishes" - this is a polite way of saying "wrong notes". As soon as I sat down at the piano I saw her write something on the report form and remember wondering what it was. You can see it is the word "memory"!!! i13.photobucket.com/albums/a256/StuartWilson/Stuartpianocomments.jpgAll in all a very positive experienec and something I look back on as a great personal acheivement.
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Post by possom on Apr 23, 2007 13:47:50 GMT
I can't actually take part in our local music festival anymore because of being a teacher It's a shame because I would like to have a go at the singing classes (bearing in mind I haven't actually sung in front of an audience yet!). Stumac, we had the same adjudicator Kate Elmitt at our local Gorleston festival in March, unfortunately I didn't get to see my pupils play (I normally do), but the comments sheets looked good and helpful Well done for taking part
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Post by anacrusis on Apr 23, 2007 19:00:38 GMT
Our festival stipulates "no professional qualifications" - so I had to email them to check if ATCL counts as one, and was steered into the general direction of the categories I should be looking to play in - I hope they're right . I also told them I have a pupil and have played once (unpaid) for a semi-professional orchestra, but since I don't make my living from music, they say I can have a go. Stumac, that's a lovely report to get - and the reason I've decided to do this here is also to get some feedback and comments - am still trying to work out if I feel lucky or worried to have Evelyn Nallen adjudicating. I also seem to have put myself down to do a baroque workshop with harpsidoc - the competitive thing would have stressed him, but hopefully the workshop/masterclass will be fun .
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Post by AnotherPianist on Apr 24, 2007 21:58:59 GMT
*Prepares to defend accompanist* I've never been to a music festival actually, although just had a look at a video we have of a mini-YAP at one . There seemed to be quite short pieces to play and then the adjudicator talked for a loooooong time; must have been one that liked the sound of his own voice . Having said that it was mostly about the piece and what he was looking for, which given it was a set piece one would expect it more. I think having a recorder specialist will work in your favour , they'll be able to appreciate the technical hurdles you've had to overcome to play the pieces as well as look for musicality . They'll also be able to give more useful feedback and I'm sure it won't be any less positive.
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Post by Benj on Apr 24, 2007 23:59:47 GMT
At my last music festival I was in the 18 and under solo category...own choice up to 6 minutes long. I played Mozart Sonata in F K.332. The standard was very high with age ranges from 10-18. The adjuducator was a concert pianist and so offered lots of tips and gave examples on how to improve the performance of a piece. I found this really useful Good luck with your recital Its great fun
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Post by anacrusis on Jun 1, 2007 0:10:59 GMT
*hunts for smilie biting its nails* *nervous excitement*
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Post by kerioboe on Jun 1, 2007 7:19:02 GMT
Good Luck When is it?
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Post by anacrusis on Jun 1, 2007 8:15:16 GMT
Thanks! Today At least I've got a very sound accompanist .
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Post by possom on Jun 1, 2007 9:17:05 GMT
Good luck
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Post by anacrusis on Jun 2, 2007 12:19:27 GMT
Thank you. Seems to have gone quite well - a great baroque workshop first, where we learned as much from what the other musicians were doing as we did when it was our turn to play (she kept making me do the difficult bits again ;D!), then straight into the recorder class - some very fine young players, and me definitely the oldie of the lot. Oh, boy, was I nervous at the time, and hungry afterwards....
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Post by AnotherPianist on Jun 2, 2007 17:59:17 GMT
Seems to have gone quite well That would be translated from modest speak as she played well and won . Adjudicator was rather a meanie being rather critical of everyone (especially the winner ) and tended to state her opinions on matters as fact, even when they went against common practice. So well done anacrusis .
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Post by anacrusis on Jun 2, 2007 18:19:03 GMT
Thanks, AP . (YAP had been kind enough to chum me for the competition, and AP turned pages - I was glad not to have the official accompanist, who was competent, but only played the piano, and didn't really do the early music justice, certainly not the way YAP did). I was a bit gobsmacked to get the medal, given all she'd said. Part of the problem, I'm sure, is that she thought since I was so much older than the others, that I would therefore have much more experience of playing in public than they had - she was a bit taken aback when I told her I'd only had four years of recorder lessons. After being told the adjudicator was really sweet, encouraging, bla, bla, it was odd to have such a negative experience, but, aye weel (Scots for hey ho), done that now, got the T shirt, move on... Seems my baroque-nut-ness has had a promotion too - thanks folks .
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